"Brad is a difference-maker, and one of the premier playmakers in the NHL," Stars co-general manager Les Jackson said. "He is in the prime of his playing career and a proven winner who has elevated his game to the highest levels in the playoffs."

Richards, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as top playoff performer in 2004, has 18 goals and 51 points in 62 games this season.

Campbell to Sharks

Unable to negotiate a contract extension, the Buffalo Sabres dealt defenceman Brian Campbell and a seventh-rounder to the San Jose Sharks for defenceman Steve Bernier and a first-rounder.

"Let us be honest, we would all have preferred to have him here and keep him here," Sabres GM Darcy Regier said. "But this is part of the new CBA [collective bargaining agreement] that we're going to have to deal with."

The Sharks also traded defenceman Rob Davison to the New York Islanders for a seventh-rounder.

Huet to Capitals

The Montreal Canadiens coveted Hossa, but settled for sending goaltender Cristobal Huet to the Washington Capitals for little more than a second-rounder.

"It was a lot of fun," Huet said of playing in Montreal.

"I cannot say anything bad. I would love to have finished the job here, but it was a little difficult.

"I did not play well enough the last three weeks, so I guess I didn't help my cause. Now I have a chance to join another team and try to help them jump into the playoffs."

The Capitals were extremely active on Tuesday, acquiring forward Sergei Fedorov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenceman Theo Ruth.

"We could have added four or five guys in the last hour … but you look at your lineup and say, they're not better than what you have," Canucks GM Dave Nonis said.

Belak, Kilger to Panthers

The Florida Panthers received two forwards from Toronto — Chad Kilger for a third-rounder and Wade Belak for a fifth-rounder.

"With the Richard Zednik injury, we needed a big, fast and skilled winger … and Chad can play that role for us," Panthers GM and head coach Jacques Martin said.

"The reality of the situation in Maple Leaf world is that we were not skating in the same arenas as some of the other teams," said Maple Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher, whose hands were tied because five players — and assets — had no-trade clauses.

"I'm dealing for draft choices today, and my son is dealing for Marian Hossa," Fletcher quipped, referring to his son, Chuck, who is assistant GM in Pittsburgh.

The Panthers later shipped Ruslan Salei to the Colorado Avalanche for fellow defenceman Karlis Skrastins and a third-rounder.

Stuart to Red Wings

Defenceman Brad Stuart was the lone acquisition by the Detroit Red Wings, coming from the Los Angeles Kings for a second- and a fourth-rounder.

The Kings unloaded goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin for a seventh-rounder from the Anaheim Ducks, who traded forward Brandon Bochenski to the Nashville Predators for future considerations.

Anaheim also nabbed defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Islanders for a third-rounder.